An image display apparatus for displaying an image corresponding to an image signal selectively inputs a first image signal and a second image signal having an aspect ratio different from that of the first image signal. When the second image signal is input, the second image signal is converted into an image signal corresponding to the aspect ratio of the first image signal, and the converted image signal is supplied to an image display unit for displaying an image corresponding to the aspect ratio of the first image signal. Thus, it is possible to display an image in a manner easy to observe, and to effectively utilize the display picture surface.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An image display apparatus for displaying an image corresponding to an image signal, comprising: an image display unit for displaying an image of a predetermined aspect ratio; first image signal output means for outputting a first image signal; second image signal output means for outputting a second image signal indicating a different kind of image from that indicated by the first image signal outputted by said first image signal output means; image signal forming means for forming a converted first image signal having an aspect ratio different from the first image signal outputted by said first image signal output means; storage means for storing the image signal and supplying the stored image signal to said image display unit, said storage means comprising a storage area having a storage capacity corresponding to an image signal displayed by said image display unit, and further said storage area comprising a first storage area for storing the second image signal and a second storage area for storing the converted first image signal; display area assigning means for assigning a display area of the converted first image signal on a screen of said image display unit; and control means for controlling a storage operation of the converted first image signal with respect to said second storage area in accordance with the assignment by said display area assigning means.
2. An image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means is arranged so that the converted first image signal formed by said image signal forming means should be stored in the second storage area of said storage means corresponding to the display area assigned by said display area assigning means.
3. An image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes a frame memory capable of storing a frame image signal.
4. An image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image display unit includes a screen of the aspect ratio of 16 to 9.
5. An image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first signal output means includes an image signal receiver for receiving the first image signal and outputting the received first image signal.
6. An image signal processing apparatus for processing an image signal so as to display the image signal on an image display unit having a screen of a predetermined aspect ratio, said apparatus comprising: first image signal output means for outputting a first image signal; second image signal output means for outputting a second image signal different from the first image signal; image signal forming means for forming a converted first image signal having an aspect ratio different from the first image signal the basis of the first image signal outputted by said first; storage means for storing the image signal, said storage means comprising a storage area having a storage capacity corresponding to an image signal displayed on the image display unit, and further said storage area comprising a first storage area for storing the second image signal and a second storage area for storing the converted first image signal; display area assigning means for assigning a display area of the converted first image signal on the screen of the display unit; and control means for controlling a storage operation of the converted first image signal with respect to the second storage area in accordance with the assignment by said display area assigning means.
7. An image signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means is arranged so that the converted first image signal formed by said image signal forming means should be stored in the second storage area of said storage means corresponding to the display area assigned by said display area assigning means.
8. An image signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said storage means includes a frame memory capable of storing a frame image signal.
9. An image signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image display unit includes a screen with an aspect ratio of 16 to 9.
10. An image signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first signal output means includes an image signal receiver for receiving the first image signal and outputting the received first image signal.
11. An image signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said storage means is arranged so that an image signal stored in said storage area is read out and supplied to said image display unit.
12. An image signal processing method for processing an image signal so as to display the image signal on an image display unit having a screen of a predetermined aspect ratio, said method comprising the steps of: inputting a first image signal; inputting a second image signal different from the first image signal; forming a converted first image signal having an aspect ratio different from the first image signal; assigning a display area of the converted first image signal on the screen of the display unit; and storing the second image signal in a first storage area of a storage area having a storage capacity corresponding to an image signal displayed on the image display unit, and storing the converted first image signal in a second storage area in accordance with assignment in the storage area in said display area assigning step.
13. An image signal processing method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of supplying an image signal stored in the storage area in said storing step.
14. An image signal processing method according to claim 12, wherein the storage area is a frame memory capable of storing a frame image signal.
15. An image signal processing method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying the stored image signal on the screen of the display unit with an aspect ratio of 16 to 9.
16. An image signal processing method according to claim 12, wherein the first image signal outputted by an image signal receiver is inputted in said first image signal inputting step.
17. An image signal processing apparatus for processing an image signal so as to display the image on a display unit having a screen of a predetermined aspect ratio and displaying an image signal of a first television system, said apparatus comprising: a) first input means for inputting a first image signal of a second television system; b) second input means for inputting a second image signal; c) forming means for converting the first image signal to the image signal of the first television system so as to display the first image signal on the display unit; d) display area assigning means for assigning a display area of the converted first image signal on the screen of the display unit; and e) storage means for storing the converted image signal in a first storage area in accordance with the output of said display area assigning means and storing the second image signal in a second storage area, said storage means being capable of storing an image signal displayed on the screen of the display unit and being arranged so that the image signal stored in a storage area is read out and supplied to the display unit.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said storage means includes memory capable of storing a frame image signal.
19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second image signal is an image indicating time information.
20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the aspect ratio of the first image signal input by said input means is different from the predetermined aspect ratio.
21. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising the display unit.
22. An image signal processing method for processing an image signal, so as to display the image on a display unit having a screen of a predetermined aspect ratio and displaying an image signal of a first television system, said method comprising the steps of: inputting a first image signal of a second television system; inputting a second image signal; converting the first image signal to the image signal of the first television system so as to display the first image signal on the display unit; assigning a display area of the converted first image signal on the display screen of the display unit; and storing the converted image signal in a first storage area of a storage area means in accordance with the assignment in said assigning step and storing the second image signal in a second storage area of the storage means, with the storage means being capable of storing an image signal displayed on the screen of the display unit, and being arranged so that the image signal stored in the storage means is read out and supplied to the display unit.
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January 4, 1996
September 11, 2001
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